Please call 1-800-591-3869, and tell Target to stop selling rabbit fur. And please don’t shop there until they stop!

Due to changes in a federal policy, a horse slaughterhouse in Stanwood, WA could re-open. On December 19, the Snohomish Country Council will be considering a ban on horse slaughter, which would prevent that slaughterhouse as well as any others from operating in Snohomish County.

Task force to take closer look at Woodland Park’s elephants
Woodland Park Zoo’s elephant exhibit will be scrutinized by a panel of experts as part of a task force requested by Seattle City Council members who said they are concerned about the welfare and future of the zoo’s three aging elephants.

Doug Spink, Accused of Operating Sumas Bestiality Farm, Faces Animal Cruelty Charges At Long Last
By the sound of it, Douglas Spink, a man who once made a fortune selling fitness catalogues to gyms, didn’t think he’d have to worry about animal cruelty charges in Whatcom County. This, despite the fact law enforcement there had collected piles of evidence to suggest he operated a bizarre bestiality farm out of Sumas, Wash, and has already convicted and deported one man because of it.

Constitutionality of Ohio’s new dangerous animal law challenged in court
The law bans ownership of certain dangerous animals as of January 2014. The deadline for owners to register their animals, with microchips, was Nov. 5, 2012. Further steps are required to maintain possession of the animals in 2014 and beyond. The animal owners say the law is unconstitutional because it violates their property ownership rights. Under the new law, the state can seize an animal if it is not properly registered with a microchip.

Animal rights inroads
The top lobbyist for the National Turkey Federation thinks national standards for egg-laying cages won’t make it into a multi-year farm bill, and similar efforts may be “running out of steam.” Damon Wells spoke at the North Dakota Poultry Industries convention in Fargo, N.D., on Dec. 13 and said he doesn’t see production mandates making it into the federal farm bill, currently stuck in Congress. Wells said the “precedent-setting” of the farm bill cage restriction proposals is not likely to re-emerge. The proposals didn’t make it into either Senate or House versions of the bill.

America’s Milk Business in a ‘Crisis’
In an age of vitamin waters and energy drinks, the decadeslong decline in U.S. milk consumption has accelerated, worrying dairy farmers, milk processors and grocery chains. The industry “is coming to recognize this as a crisis,” says Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., a farmer-funded trade group that promotes milk products. “We cannot simply assume that we will always have a market.” Per-capita U.S. milk consumption, which peaked around World War II, has fallen almost 30% since 1975

Poaching is a national security issue, WWF study finds
Poaching of wild animals for ivory, horns, skins and other parts has been a dangerous business for animals for decades, but it’s evolved into a security threat as well, according to a WWF report. Elaborate criminal syndicates that protect and augment the trade have developed, the report found. “It is one thing to be worried about the traditional poachers who come in and kill and take a few animals, a few tusks, a few horns or other animal parts,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “It’s something else when you’ve got helicopters, night vision goggles, automatic weapons, which pose a threat to human life as well as wildlife.”

Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have advocated for the retirement of Bamboo, Chai and Watoto, the elephants living on display at Woodland Park Zoo, to a sanctuary.

Sadly, the Zoo “owns” the elephants and only public pressure will help save the elephants from dying at WPZ.

Let them know you are disturbed that WPZ allows Bamboo, Chai and Watoto to suffer in an environment that directly harms their physical and psychological health and you want immediate actions taken to improve their conditions while working for retirement at a sanctuary.

WPZ receives more than $10 million from Seattle and King county tax payers every year yet claims: “we do not have a record that gives the cost of housing or caring for the elephants”. Ask the City and County Councils to take control over the elephants’ welfare and WPZ’s irresponsible use of our hard earned tax dollars. We want action!

We’ve included The Seattle Times’ address so they, too, hear the outpouring of support for the elephants— as well as for the article.

In the subject line, make sure to use a word like: elephant, zoo, Chai, Bamboo

W5 report sparks investigations into Manitoba pig farm
Disturbing footage captured at a Manitoba pork farm has prompted the launch of several investigations looking into the treatment of animals at the facility, including an internal investigation by the company at the centre of the abuse allegations…Manitoba’s Pork Council told CTV News on Monday that while there were issues with some of the footage, much of what was captured by the animal welfare group was standard practice — including the “thumping” of piglets. The group behind the footage, Mercy for Animals Canada, held news conferences in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal on Monday where they called on major grocery chains to stop carrying meat from producers who use gestation cages.

Senate endorses stricter consequences for watching animal fights
The Senate has voted to strengthen penalties associated with attending events that involve animal fights. “This bill is about ending animal fighting, which plainly and simply is a blood sport,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who introduced the measure. The legislation now moves to the House.

Vegan Diet Hugely Helpful Against Cancer, Especially For Women
For cancer-free living, meat and dairy-free dining are the way to go, it seems. A new study funded by the National Cancer Institute found vegans have even lower cancer rates than vegetarian counterparts, who in turn see less cancer than omnivores. “Most people think they are a victim of their genes, helpless to stave off some of the most dreaded diseases,” , writes Kathy Freston at HuffPost Healthy Living. “We aren’t helpless at all; in fact, the power is largely in our hands. It’s on our forks, actually.”

Ikea monkey transferred to primate sanctuary
A five-month-old monkey that became an internet sensation after it was photographed running around the parking lot of a Toronto Ikea store is now in the care of a southern Ontario primate sanctuary.

Yellowstone wolf shootings draw scrutiny as Montana trapping season set to begin
The shooting of collared gray wolves from Yellowstone National Park is prompting Montana wildlife commissioners to consider new restrictions against killing the predators in areas near the park. Wolf trapping in Montana kicks off Dec. 15. It’s the state’s first such trapping season since the animals lost their federal protections last year after almost four decades on the endangered species list. But hunting already is under way for the predators in Montana and neighboring Idaho and Wyoming, and at least seven of Yellowstone’s roughly 88 wolves have been shot in recent weeks while travelling outside the park.

Racetrack Drugs Put Europe Off U.S. Horse Meat
For decades, American horses, many of them retired or damaged racehorses, have been shipped to Canada and Mexico, where it is legal to slaughter horses, and then processed and sold for consumption in Europe and beyond. Lately, however, European food safety officials have notified Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses of a growing concern: The meat of American racehorses may be too toxic to eat safely because the horses have been injected repeatedly with drugs.

Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have advocated for the retirement of Bamboo, Chai and Watoto, the elephants living on display at Woodland Park Zoo, to a sanctuary (read more about it in our previous post on this topic).

Sadly, the Zoo “owns” the elephants and only public pressure will help save the elephants from dying at WPZ.

Let them know you are disturbed that WPZ allows Bamboo, Chai and Watoto to suffer in an environment that directly harms their physical and psychological health and you want immediate actions taken to improve their conditions while working for retirement at a sanctuary.

WPZ receives more than $10 million from Seattle and King county tax payers every year yet claims: “we do not have a record that gives the cost of housing or caring for the elephants”. Ask the City and County Councils to take control over the elephants’ welfare and WPZ’s irresponsible use of our hard earned tax dollars. We want action!

We’ve included The Seattle Times’ address so they, too, hear the outpouring of support for the elephants— as well as for the article.

In the subject line, make sure to use a word like: elephant, zoo, Chai, Bamboo

GLAMOUR BEASTS: The dark side of elephant captivity
Zoos’ efforts to preserve and propagate elephants have largely failed, both in Seattle and nationally. The infant-mortality rate for elephants in zoos is almost triple the rate in the wild…American zoos face swift and harsh punishment when their aged elephants are retired to a 2,300-acre sanctuary in the California foothills.

The ‘Times’ exposes the elephant abuse it once abetted
Don’t miss Michael J. Berens’ forceful account, in today’s Seattle Times, of a willful tragedy: American zoos’, and especially our own Woodland Park Zoo’s, merciless efforts to breed crowd-magnet baby elephants. But don’t imagine that this much-touted “exposé” is the first exposure of this sad, sorry business. And don’t let the Times off just yet for being a decade late in getting the story, after breathlessly cheering, ad nauseum, the very practices it now deplores.

Animal rights group sues California restaurant over foie gras ban
PETA sued a California restaurant on Wednesday that it says serves outlawed foie gras to patrons, in what appears to be the first lawsuit to enforce a state ban on the delicacy, PETA officials said. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said that Hot’s Kitchen claimed to have stopped selling foie gras when a ban on producing or selling it took effect in July, but was offering it as a complimentary side dish to customers who order “THE Burger.”

PETA bosses refuse to back down over The Hobbit animal deaths
PETA media officer Wendy Wegner tells WENN, “Five whistleblowers reported more than two dozen animal deaths during the production of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. They raised concerns not just once but repeatedly to both the head wrangler and the head of production about the unsafe housing conditions for animals and about Shanghai the horse, who was hobbled – his legs reportedly tied together when he proved to be too energetic for his rider. But their concerns were outright ignored.

Research Animals Lost in Wolf Hunts Near Yellowstone
For Yellowstone scientists, the loss of the collared wolves isn’t so much a political or an emotional issue, as an issue of the viability of wildlife science. They are particularly frustrated at the elimination of five wolves outfitted with tracking collars that had spent the majority of their time inside the park border, as well as two others that roamed had through the park though spent much of their time outside.

Marshfield dog is first in state to win domestic violence protection order
A 6-year-old Labrador mix has become the first animal in the state to win protection from a new state law that allows endangered pets to be included in domestic violence restraining orders.Orthodox Leader Deepens Progressive Stance on Environment
Other religious leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama and the archbishop of Canterbury, have also called for responsible stewardship of the environment. But Bartholomew has gone further than most; some theologians call his stance revolutionary. “Traditionally in Christianity, sin was what you did to other humans,” said Kallistos Ware, a prominent Orthodox theologian based in Britain, “but Bartholomew insisted that what you do to the animals, the air, the water, the land can be sinful, not just folly, and that was quite a change.”

After years of diligent work, the Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants have still not gotten the zoo to even consider releasing Bamboo, Chai and Watoto to a sanctuary – making it clear that the zoo leadership cares more about revenue than the lives of the elephants themselves.

Elephants are genetically wired to spend up to 20 hours a day roaming across hundreds of miles. At Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) the elephants must share less than a single acre of outdoor space. Depriving Bamboo, Chai and Watoto of adequate space causes them serious mental and physical harm.

In the wild elephants live in tropical and subtropical regions. Seattle’s cold climate forces the elephants indoors for an unacceptable amount of their lives. Bamboo, Chai and Watoto are locked in small barn stalls, barely able to move, for 16 to 17 hours a day for nearly 7 months of the year.

The elephants suffer from painful arthritis and bouts of colic. Chai and Bamboo endure chronic foot infections—the leading cause of death in zoo elephants—caused by lack of space. A complex social life, critical to elephants’ well being, is denied them and Watoto, the lone African elephant, is frequently kept in solitary confinement. All three elephants display neurotic repetitive behavior caused by high levels of stress and boredom—including pacing, swaying, and head bobbing.

Watoto indoors

Finally someone else has taken notice: The Seattle Times has published a story about the lives that these beautiful creatures face behind our bars: http://seattletimes.com/elephants. The article focuses on the horrific attempts for zoos to create more baby elephants, because they create such huge draws of patrons. More than 100 artificial insemination for the two girls. It also shares how zoos “train” these wild creatures. Please read the piece and share this story with your friend and family who still support zoos so they can understand the cruelty behind their summer visits. Make sure that you and your family all write letters to the zoo asking them to release the elephants and put the elephants lives ahead of profit.

Now is this time. With this very public article, the tragedy of captive elephants is revealed, but the zoo must hear from us too. They must become stewards of compassion for animals. Please:

Calendar

January2019

NARN's board of directors meets monthly to discuss our campaigns and administrative issues. Guests are welcome to attend if we have enough time on our agenda.

If you wish to have an agenda item added to the NARN Board Meeting, please email info@narn.org at least a day in advance. You can also send us a message on Facebook anytime or even the day of the meeting and we'll get back to you. All NARN Board Meetings are held in Seattle.

Join local activists to help educate the public about the dangers of purchasing dogs from places like Puppyland. Puppyland is a new store in Puyallup that sells puppies from breeders.

The demo is until 3pm, but don't feel that you have to be there the entire time. Come for an hour or two to help hand out fliers or hold a sign.

This is a peaceful demonstration, inspired by our desire to speak out against the dangers of allowing businesses like Puppyland to exist in our communities. Join us in providing free, educational information to the public about the dangers of supporting backyard breeding practices and puppy mills, the importance of spaying and neutering pets, the time and money it takes to responsibly care for a living creature, and the positive effects of screening pet owners through application processes.

For updates see the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2093159060741059/

Come join us for a delicious brunch at the fabulous Celest Cafe AND write some letters for animals.

NARN provides the stationery, pens, stamps, sample letters, and ideas for what to write -- just bring yourself. You can even bring your laptop if you'd prefer to type or email your letters!

Why letter writing? Letter writing is a simple way to make change for the animals! At our letter writing events, we write for many different reasons: opposition to the creation of new animal laboratories, support for sending animals to sanctuary, promotion of vegan events and issues through letters to the media, and raising the spirits of activists and comrades who have been jailed for their pro-animal and political actions!

Join local activists to help educate the public about the dangers of purchasing dogs from places like Puppyland. Puppyland is a new store in Puyallup that sells puppies from breeders.

The demo is until 6pm, but don't feel that you have to be there the entire time. Come for an hour or two to help hand out fliers or hold a sign.

This is a peaceful demonstration, inspired by their desire to speak out against the dangers of allowing businesses like Puppyland to exist in our communities. Join them in providing free, educational information to the public

For updates see the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/512061562622307/

The University of Washington's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will be meeting to discuss various research protocols (study designs). This is your chance to voice your opinion about the research on animals that goes on at the UW. Please come and speak for the animals!
The meetings are held at the South Campus Center; Room #342 (in between San Juan Road & Columbia Road); behind the Magnuson Health Sciences Center (1925 N.E. Pacific St) )
http://www.washington.edu/maps/

Unfortunately, they frequently re-schedule or cancel their meetings in an attempt to avoid the public, so please call the Public Affairs Office at 206-543-9180 to make sure the meeting is still happening at the given time.
You can also check out their calendar here (copy & paste link into your browser)
http://oaw.washington.edu/iacuc-meeting-schedule/

This month we will be checking out Travelers Thali House. They have tons of vegan options. See their menu here:
http://www.travelersthalihouse.com/Menu102014.html
The Social Discussion Group is a casual event. Drinkers and non-drinkers are welcome, and you don't have to be vegetarian to participate. We hope you'll join us! Questions? Contact rachel[at]narn[dot]org

Join local activists to help educate the public about the dangers of purchasing dogs from places like Puppyland. Puppyland is a new store in Puyallup that sells puppies from breeders.

The demo is until 3pm, but don't feel that you have to be there the entire time. Come for an hour or two to help hand out fliers or hold a sign.

This is a peaceful demonstration, inspired by their desire to speak out against the dangers of allowing businesses like Puppyland to exist in our communities. Join them in providing free, educational information to the public

For updates see the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/406570843449273/

La Cocina School at El Centro de la Raza will be offering a tasty Vegan Tamales Cooking Class in partnership with the Food Empowerment Project! Now is your chance to learn how to make vegan tamales from a master tamalera! The tamales are prepared in the handmade and traditional fashion using cultural ingredients. Sweet sangrias, beer and wine will also be served and is included in the ticket price.

Class will begin promptly at 10:00 AM in the kitchen at El Centro de la Raza. Classes typically take 2.5 to 3 hours long. All cooking supplies and ingredients will be provided, but please bring your own apron.

The money for the La Cocina School at El Centro de la Raza Latin Cooking Classes go to fund El Centro de la Raza's Senior programs.

For updates on this event see
https://www.facebook.com/events/2404477662895760/